Whether You Want To Relax On White Sand Beaches, Hike Through Vast Areas Of Tropical Forest, Or Have A Blast In Bangkok, Thailand Has Something For Every Traveler. Welcome To Thailand2009.com. This Site Is Your Free Information Resource That Will Answer All Of Your Questions About Traveling To Thailand.
As You Explore This Site, You'll Discover...
5 Costly Mistakes You Can Make On Your Trip To Thailand
Facts About Thailand For Those Who Dream Of Going There
Our List Of The Top 7 Most Beautiful Beaches In Thailand
Bangkok Travel 101: Places And Activities You Cannot Miss
Remember... If You Are Looking For Quality Information Related To Thailand Travel, Add This Site To Your Favorites Right Now, As We Update It Daily With The Latest News And Information Related To Thailand Travel And Similar Topics. Enjoy The Site.
Everything You Must Know About Hotels In Bangkok, Holidays To Thailand, Thailand Holidays, Bangkok Hotel Reservation, And Cheap Holidays To Thailand.
If you've been budget travelling in the more so-called developed parts of Asia, such as Hong Kong and Japan, you've probably had to skimp on comfort when choosing accommodations. If you ever want to pamper yourself though and not spend much more than you would at most youth yostels, you should certainly check out the hotels in Chiang Mai, Thailand. This city in northern Thailand is the second largest in the country after Bangkok. Don't let this fool you though. Not only is it cooler and much less crowded than it's big brother to the south, but it is also within spitting distance of some of Thailand's most beautiful forests and mountains which are home to many of the country's famed hill...
During my visit to Thailand in November 2004, I traveled through the scenic Yunnanese village of Mae Salong , located in the mountains of the Golden Triangle . Mae Salong is a very unique and important place, not only because of its historical origins but also as the one of the most important tea growing regions in Thailand. Many of the villagers trace their ancestry to members of Chinese Nationalist party who fled China, resettling in nothern Thailand during the communist takeover in late 1940's. Strolling around the small town, you'll find the Chinese influence very strong with most of the shops and many of the homes decorated with Chinese ornamentation and with many of the...
Mention Thailand and images of beaches, elephants and Bangkok come to mind. Less known is the fact Thailand rock climbing is some of the best in the world. Thailand Rock Climbing Located in Southeast Asia, Thailand is bordered by Cambodia, Burma and Laos in the north and Malaysia in the south. The shape of the country is somewhat similar to Italy, and you'll find similar differences between northern and southern Thailand that you do in Italy. For rock climbing enthusiasts, the south of Thailand is where the action is. The rock formations in Thailand are almost universally limestone. The level of climbing can be as simple as bouldering or as challenging as tackling...
Thailand prides itself in the fact that it is the only country in Southeast Asia that has never been a colony of another country. It also prides itself in its strong Buddhist tradition. Although Christianity was introduced to Thailand by European missionaries in the 16th century, Christians constituted only 0.7 percent (438,600) of the population by the year 2001.
Portugal was the first country to send Christian missionaries to Thailand, in 1554. The French followed in 1660. Most of the early missionaries were Catholic, and by 1908, Thailand had approximately 50 Catholic schools with nearly 4,000 pupils. Today, approximately 25 percent of the Christian population is Roman Catholic. Almost half of the Christian population lives in Chiang Mai province. Most of the remainder lives in the Bangkok area and in the northeastern provinces.
Christian missionaries have made substantial contributions to Thailand's development. They introduced the printing press and Western surgery, made the first smallpox vaccinations, and wrote the first Thai-English dictionaries. King Mongkut (Rama IV) learned English and Latin from Christian missionaries, although he reportedly told one of his missionary friends, "What you teach us to do is admirable, but what you teach us to believe is foolish."
Most of the early converts to Christianity in Thailand were ethnic minorities such as the Chinese immigrants. Today, the majority of Christians are Thai, but missionaries are also actively working with many of the country's more than 30 ethnic tribal groups, which range in size from the Yellow Leaf with just a few hundred members to the Pwo Karen with almost half a million members. Most of these ethnic groups live in northern or northeastern Thailand. They are primarily animistic, and are constantly making offerings to the myriad spirits that they believe inhabit just about everything from their village and their house to the trees and the mountain paths.
Several evangelical agencies such as the New Tribes Mission (NTM) and Overseas Missionary Fellowship (OMF) have been working with the tribal groups for 20 years or more. Because many of the tribes don't speak Thai, the missionaries have found that they must learn to speak not only Thai, but also the indigenous languages of the tribes. For the same reason, they are finding that it is critical to translate the Bible into the tribe's own language.
In Thailand, foreign missionaries of all faiths are required to register with the government. In May 2001, approximately 2,000 foreign missionaries were reportedly registered legally, including 418 Roman Catholic, 996 Protestant, 150 Mormon, and 6 Muslim missionaries.